THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has thrown out a bid by Israel to block an investigation into allegations that it committed war crimes in Gaza.

Monday’s decision by the ICC comes as the Israelis continue to face allegations that they are continuing to target Palestinian civilians despite the ceasefire that came into force in early October.

The appeal chamber of the ICC refused to overturn a decision of a lower court that allowed the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes by Israel following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

The decision paves the way for the court to continue the investigation that led to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant being issued with arrest warrants alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The appeal focused on whether the ICC prosecutor was required to issue a fresh notification to Israel before investigating events that took place before the October 7 attack.

Israel argued that the post-October 7 assault on Gaza was a new situation, triggered by additional referrals submitted to the court by seven other countries since November 2023, including South Africa, Chile and Mexico.

Judges rejected the argument, ruling that the original notification issued in 2021, when the ICC formally opened its investigation into alleged crimes committed by the Israelis in the occupied West Bank, already covered later events.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry slammed the ruling, saying on X that this was an example of the ICC’s “disregard for the sovereign rights of countries who are not members of the court.”

Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the court and, in any case, denies having committed any war crimes or crimes against humanity in its attacks in Gaza.

The ICC had also initially issued an arrest warrant against Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, but withdrew it when it emerged the Israelis had killed him.